Rubber cushion arch protector



E. STAGL 1,79

RUBBER CUSHION ARCH PROTECTOR Filed May 5.1. 1928 45 the sole 15'.

' Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES v JOSEPH E. STAGL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK RUBBER CUSHION I Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to cushion arch protectors and has particular reference to arch supporters for boots or shoes adapted to be attached to the articles of footwear at any time after manufacture, as well as during manufacture.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an arch protector which is easily attachable to the article of footwear and which,

when attached to the hollow or shank of a shoe between the heel thereof and the forward tread portion of the sole, provides an auxiliary tread surface spaced from the heel and forward tread portions of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated arch supportof the kind described with an attaching portion at the forward end thereof and a back end attaching portion above the bottom surface of the sole and between theheel and the auxiliary tread surface.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which': I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having my improved arch support attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same partly broken away and with the support shown in vertical longitudinal section. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an arch support per se.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the arch support in its entirety, which is .rectangular in shape and is attached by fastening elements, such as screws 11, to the shank 12'of a shoe 13 between the tread surface 14 of the heel and the tread surface 15 of In order to provide alight andstrong device, 1 construct the support from a single piece of material preferably rubber having a bottom tread surface 16 of sufficient area to properly take theweight of the arch or part ponents of the users walking movement RAT ENT OFF-ICE Anon PROTECTOR 192s. Serial in. 281,955.

of the foot of the wearer of the shoe located above the shank 12, while the top surface 17 of the support, which is slightly concave in cross section to conform with the shape of said shoe shank, is of greater area than the 5 surface 16 to provide an attaching flange 18, in which apertures 19 are provided to receive the screws 11, the ends of which terminate before reaching the inner sole 20 of the shoe. The boundary surface 21 of the lower or tapered portion '22 of the support is countersunk between the boundary edge of the base 16 and the lower'edge 23 of the flange 18 to promote lightness, and also to avoid accumulation around the support of any material that may come into contact with the tread surfaces of the shoe. Thetransverse dimen- I sion of the shank 12 is. greater than that of the flange 18, and the transverse dimensionof t e flange is greater than that of the tread su face 16, thereby providing a stepped support tapering downwardly, but the tread surface 16 is of substantial area to provide an adequate bearing and supporting surface. The surface 16 is convex with convex rearward and forward end portions'so that said surface contacts with the ground or surface being walked on before the surface 15, thereby assuring positive initial support for the shank 12,. with the result thatas the usual tread surfaces 14: and 15 of the shoe reach the ground there is an upward pressure on said shank. This pressure may be regulated by the resiliency of the material of the support 10, or by the extent of the c'rve 16 below the usual sole surfaces.

By reason of the convexity of the rearward and forward end portions of the tread surface 16, the latter becomes effective without jar or impact, so that except for an added feeling of comfort the presence of the sup-. port is not felt by the user. The forward convex end of the tread 16'is also preferably rounded or tapered laterally so that the commerge and impart a smooth, rolling engage ment during the walking movement.

While the back surface 24 of the flange 18 may abut the forward face 25 of the heel, I I secure flexibility of the sole 15' by providing a space 26 between said face and the support 10. An adhesive, such as glue, may be used between the surface 17 and'theshank 12 to attach the support to the shoe, if desired.

By attaching my improved support to the sole of a shoe, arch supports, such as have been used by persons with weak or falling arches. may be dispensed with. In practice, a support constructed of rubber gives good results, but any other suitable material may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vhile I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it-is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claim.

\Vhat is claimed as new is An arch support for footwear comprising, in combination with the bottom of a shoe or the like, a supplementary body attachable to the shoe after manufacture, said body constructed of a single piece of elastic and yieldable material, said body having an upper surface curved to compact against the under side of the arch portion of the shoe, and a. lower tread surface. said upper surface being of greater area than the lower tread surface and including an attaching flange, said attaching flange having exteriorly accessible fastenerreceiving apertures, the side portions of said body being countersunk between the lower edge of said flange and the boundary of said lower tread surface, the rearward end of said body being outwardly and upwardly rounded below the rearward part of said attaching flange and merging with said lower tread surface, and being spaced from the forward part of the. shoe heel, and the forward edge of said body outwardly and upwardly rounded gradually toward the forward part of said attaching flange, and the forward part of said lower tread surface being laterally rounded, to coincide with the plane of the shoe sole, and fastening elements to secure said body to the bottom of the shoe between the forward part of the heel, independently of the latter, and the rearward part of the tread of the sole, whereby a lower tread surface is provided which merges with the tread of the heel and sole and allows'a smooth rolling engagement during the wearers walking movement.

Signed at Brook] n, in the county of Kings and State of New ork, this 29th day of May,

JOSEPH E. STAGL. 

